Dr. Jean Larson Nature-Based Therapeutics

Manager, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Assistant Professor, Center for Spirituality and Healing

What?

How?

Why?

Do you feel good when working with

plants?

What are the benefits

you feel when

working with plants?

•Academic Achievement

•Physical Health

•Social and Emotional Health

•School and Community

Benefits

A

m

e

r

Courtesy of http://lekowala.wordpress.com

Courtesy of http://www.interface.com/

Best way to describe Biophilia and is….

Photo credit: © John Bell/istockphoto.com

http://www.womensinternational.com/connections/vitamind.html

Vitamin D

Retinal cells have a direct connection to our

biological clock and are particularly

sensitive to light with wavelengths within the

blue spectrum (Brainard et al., 2001)

Humans innate tendency to focus on life

“Humans have an innate (or

at least extremely ancient)

connection to the natural

world, and our continued

divorce from it has led to the

loss of not only a vast

intellectual legacy born of

intimacy with nature but also

our very sanity.”

Wilson E.O., (1984) Biophilia: The Human

Bond with Other Species. Cambridge,

MA: Harvard University Press

the Attention Restoration Theory (ART) of Kaplan and Kaplan (1989)

the Psycho-Evolutionary Stress-Reduction theory of Ulrich (1983)

The Salutogenic theory of Antonovsky (1979, 1987)

Landscape for Human Health Laboratory at the University of Illinois,

Urbana-Champaign

Study: examined the relationship between children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and their nature exposure through leisure activities and their attention functioning

Method: Subject comparisons both within and between

Results: The study indicates children function better than usual

after activities in green settings and the “greener” a child’s play area, the less severe his or her attention deficit symptoms.

Faber, A., Kuo, F. & Sullivan, W., Coping with ADD and the Surprising Connection to Green Play Settings, Environment and Behavior ,January 2001, vol. 33, no. 1, 54-77

The Landscape and

Human Health Lab

The Capacity to

Learn study will

examine the effects of

schoolyard nature on

children’s learning and

academic achievement

as reflected in

standardized test scores.

With this study, we hope

to convincingly

document whether

children learn more in

green school settings.

University of Groningen, Netherlands

Study: examined the behavior and emotional and cognitive

functioning of children with ADHD in a natural and built setting.

Methods Two groups of six children (age 9–17) with ADHD in the Netherlands were systematically observed, questioned, and tested during visits to a wooded area and a small town.

Results Both groups performed better on a concentration task in the woods than in the school

van den Berg, A.E., & van den Berg, C.G. (2010). A comparison of children with ADHD in a natural and built setting. Child: Care, Health, and Development, 37, 430–439

“…we have evolved to instinctively ‘tune in’ to scenery that

induces such positive responses, because this adaptive

strategy would have been significant for the

survival of our early ancestors (i.e. low risk, food and

water available)”.

(Ulrich, Simons, Losito, Fiorito, Miles, & Zelson, 1991)

They examined a preference for 4 types of landscapes:

1. landscape made by and for people = 4%

2. park-like, arcadian landscape = 13%

3. wild, interactive landscape = 31%

4. landscape “in which one may experience the

greatness and forces of nature” = 51%

Study by W. T. de Groot &

R. J. G. van den Born –

Visions of nature and landscape type preferences:

an exploration in The Netherlands

W. T. de Groot and R. J. G. van den Born, 2003, Landscape and Urban Planning,

Volume 63, Issue 3, Pages 127-138

“… is the process of enabling individuals,

groups or societies to increase control

over, and to improve their physical,

mental, social and spiritual health.”

(Eriksson and Lindström, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 07;61:938-944).

Study: examined the behavior of children in outdoor play spaces

with ample green vegetation compared to typical commercially

produced playground structures planted in a barren surface

Method: Two groups of school children between the ages of 5-8

were observed, questioned, and tested during visits to the play

spaces

Result: Both groups increased the amount of physical activity in

the plant-rich green outdoor play spaces over that of

commercially produced playground structures in barren surface

Trost, S. G., Ward, D. S., & Senso, M. (2010). Effects of child care policy and environment on physical

activity. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 42, 520-525.

Study: examined the motor skills of children in outdoor forested area with rocks and slopes compared to typical commercially produced playground structures planted in a barren surface

Method: Two groups of Norwegian kindergarten children were observed, questioned, and tested during visits to the play spaces

Result: The children who played in the forest had better motor skills (balance and coordination) than the children who spent their time on the traditional playground. Fjortoft, I. (2001). The natural environment as a playground for children: The impact of outdoor play

activities in pre-primary school children. Early Childhood Education Journal, 29, 111-117Rocks

Both of these studies are important

because childhood experiences in nature

will invariably determine exercise

preferences in later life thus

increasing their control over health and

wellbeing

Attention Restoration Theory (ART) of Kaplan and Kaplan

(1989) Psycho-Evolutionary Stress-Reduction Theory of Ulrich

(1983) Salutogenic Theory of Antonovsky (1979, 1987)

The less green in an environment leads to… Social breakdown (e.g., increased graffiti, noise,

litter, loitering, illegal activity, etc.).

Psychological breakdown (e.g., less attention, learning, management of major life issues, impulse control, delay of gratification, more ADHD symptoms, clinical depression, anxiety attacks).

Physical breakdown (e.g., poorer recovery from surgery, more obesity in children, more physician-diagnosed diseases, etc.).

Any amount and type of exposure to nature creates human health and well-being benefits (even just viewing pictures of nature helps).

Nature must be tightly integrated into urban environments so it is part of immediate and daily life.

Nature is particularly crucial for vulnerable populations – children, the elderly and the poor show greater effects.

Limited Sampling Multiple variables – difficult to

measure

Theoretical Development

What we do know is….

Civilization has rapidly evolved but our

brains and bodies have not kept pace.

s

We need to tap into our core DNA to restore health and wellbeing

The mismatch between our bodies, brains and present day lifestyle

affects every area of our lives

Artwork courtesy of David Wagner

When people view nature scenes, the parts of the brain associated with

heightened empathy, love, and positive mental outlook were activated.

It appears that nature inspires positive feelings and

connection.

Dan Siegel YouTube URL https://www.youtube.com/v/DD-lfP1FBFk

http://www.psychalive.org/minding-the-brain-by-daniel-siegel-m-d-2/

1. Cerebral Cortex (higher

function) and

SALUTOGENIC THEORY

2. Limbic areas (emotion)

and ATTENTION

RESTORATION THEORY

3. Oldest part of brain

(survival) and PSYCHO-

EVOLUTIONARY THEORY

Paul MacLean, 1960 “Truine Brain

Butler, K. (2004). Therapy Dogs Today. Norman, OK: Funpuddle Press.

DeAngelis, T. (2008). The Two Faces of Oxytocin. Monitor on Psychology, 39(2), 30.

Di Iacovo, F. & O’Connor, D. (2009). Supporting policies for Social Farming in Europe: Progressing

Multifunctionality in Responsive Rural Areas. Available from:

http://sofar.unipi.it/index_file/arsia_So.Far-EU_def.pdf.

Fine, A. (2010). Animal-assisted interventions in mental health: definitions and theoretical

foundations. In A. Fine (Ed.), Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy (3rd ed.), (p. 36). Burlington,

MA: Academic Press.

Hassink, J. & van Dijk, M. (2006). Preface. In J. Hassink & M. van Dijk (Eds.), Farming for Health:

Green-care farming across Europe and the United States of America. New York: Springer.

Haubenhofer, D. K., Elings, M. M., Hassink, J., & Hine, R. E. (2010). The Development of Green

Care in Western European Countries. Explore, 6(2), 106 – 11. Available from:

http://www.explorejournal.com/article/PIIS1550830709003929/fulltext.

Kaiser Family Foundation. (2010). Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds

(Publication No. 8010). Washington, DC.

Kellert, S. R. (1993). The Biophilia Hypothesis. Washington, DC: Island Press.

Moberg, K. U. (2003). The Oxytocin Factor. Boston, MA: Da Capo Press.

Louv, R. (2011). The Nature Principle. Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books.

Relf, P. D. (2006). Agriculture and health care: the care of plants and animals for therapy and

rehabilitation in the United States. In J. Hassink & M. van Dijk (Eds.), Farming for Health: Green-care

farming across Europe and the United States of America (pp. 309-343-172). New York: Springer.

Rock, D. (2009) Your Brain at Work. NY: HarperBusiness.

Wilson, E. O. (1984). Biophilia. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Kaplan, S. (1995). The restorative benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework. Journal of

Environmental Psychology, 15, 169–182.

W. T. de Groot and R. J. G. van den Born (2003) Visions of nature and landscape type preferences: an

exploration. Netherlands Landscape and Urban Planning, Volume 63, Issue 3,April, pp.127-138.

Maller, Cecily, Mardie Townsend, Anita Pryor, Peter Brown and Lawrence St Leger (2006). Healthy

nature healthy people: ‘contact with nature’ as an upstream health promotion intervention for

populations. Health Promotion International, Vol. 21, No. 1, March, pp. 45-54.

FranssonU, HartigT (2010). Leisure home ownership and early death: A longitudinal study in Sweden.

Health & Place 16: 71-78.

HartigT, FranssonU (2009). Leisure home ownership, access to nature, and health: A longitudinal study

of urban residents in Sweden. Environment and Planning A 41: 82-96 .

HartigT, MangM, Evans GW (1991). Restorative effects of natural environment experiences.

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Lymeus, F., Hartig, T., & Lundgren, T. (2010). Attentionaleffort and restoration in mindfulness meditation

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Applied Psychology, Melbourne, Australia, July 11-16, 2010.

Maas J, VerheijRA, GroenewegenPP, De VriesS, SpreeuwenbergP (2006). Green space, urbanity, and

health: how strong is the relation? Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 60:587-592